An Act to promote housing stability

This bill amends Massachusetts housing laws to strengthen protections for tenants who withhold rent while legal disputes are ongoing. It requires courts to promptly hear requests from tenants who want to deposit withheld rent into a secure account while their case is pending. If a tenant fails to follow the court's order to make these deposits, the judge can schedule an immediate trial and issue further directives to resolve the situation. The measure directly affects landlords, tenants, and judges involved in eviction proceedings by formalizing the process for handling rent escrows during legal delays.